Collapsible tube and cap therefor



March 28, 1939. G. w. TEMPLE 2,152,001

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE AND CAP THEREFOR Filed April 7, 193a INVENTOR Geogg M YZ'mpIe Patented Mar. 28, 1 939 PATENT OFFICE 2.152.001 cotmrsmm TUBE AND car THEREFOR George W. Temple, New York,

N. Y., assignor to Victor Metal Products Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y.,,a corporation of New York Application April 7, 1938, Serial No. 200,639 8 Claims. (01. 221

This invention relates to collapsible tubes and particularly to the means for sealing andunsealing the closure thereof. During the time between the fillingiof the collapsible tube and the first use of the contents thereof, evaporation and leakage sometimes occur. This is particularly true in connection with tubes provided with a cap and a washer or sealing disc in the cap, which sealing disc is intended to be forced against the rim surrounding the opening at the neck end of the tube to seal the tube. Sometimes, the cap is not screwed down tightly enough to properly seal the tube with the result that the contents may leak or evaporate somewhat during shipment and handling and before the tube reaches the ultimate consumer.

This invention, therefore, contemplates the provision of means integral with the tube for sealing the neck end thereof and of means on the cap for unsealing the tube for the first time when? the contents thereof are first dispensed.

This invention further contemplates the provision of an integral sealing film at the neck end of the tube, which film is suiiiciently thin to be readily punctured or otherwise opened and of a cap provided with means for cutting the film on the proper manipulation thereof.

The various objects of the invention will be clear from the description which follows and from the drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation, partly in section of my improved tube and of the cap therefor as these parts appear before the first use of the tube.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same as it appears after the sealing film has been cut and the tube is in use, showing the sealing cap.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the cap.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the modified form of the cap, partly in section wherein cutting teeth or serrations are provided on the cap for the purpose of more easily cutting or rupturing the sealing film.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the same.

In the practical embodiment of the invention which I have shown by way of example, the tube I0 is of the usual construction, being provided with the neck ll having the external threads I! thereon adapted to engage the internal threads l3,of the cap I4. At the upper end of the neck i i is provided the integral thin sealing film i5, made of one piece with and of the same material as the remainder of the neck and normally closing the opening it in the neck. Said film is ably inclinations.

extremely thin and readily puncturable, but is of sufficient thickness to resist rupture thereof during ordinary handling of the tube or even when considerable pressure is exerted upon the contents. The film normally seals the contents -of the tube against evaporation or leakage until the neck of the cap for an insumcient distance to cause the film thereof to be cut or ruptured by the film-cutting means hereinafter to be 1 described, or the cap may be supplied separately from the tube if desired.

For rupturing the sealing film it, an annular inner wall ll depends from the top of the cap parallel to and concentric with the skirt portion l8 of the cap and inwardly thereof and of less length than the skirt. The wall I! is provided with a lowermost film cutting edge It formed by the outer inclined surface 20 and the inner inclined surface 2i, said surfaces having prefer- The inclination of said walls 20 and 2| is such that the cap may be readily molded of plastic material and removed from the mold core in the usual manner by unscrewing the cap from saida' core. When the user receives the tube with the parts in the position of Fig. 1 and is ready to use the tube, he need merely rotate the cap it in the proper direction to carry the edge i8 downwardly and thereby to cut and remove the film l5 and to expose the opening l6. 0n the removal of the cap, the contents may then be dispensed in the usual manner. After part of the contents of the tube have been thus dispensed for the first time, the cap it is tightened into the position of Fig. 2 in which the wall l'l enters the outlet opening of the neck, whereby the uppermost surface 22 of the neck engages the lowermost surface 23 of the cap between the skirt i8 thereof and the wall ii, a suitable washer being interposed between the neck top and the cap, if desired. The inclined surface 30 of the cap at the top of the wall I! also engages and seals the inner neck part of the tube.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 50 4 and 5, a series of suitable teeth as 25 are provided on the walls 20 and 2| by means of meeting surfaces as 26 and 21. The surfaces 21 are of the same or of a lesser pitch than the pitch oi the threads i3 while the degree of inclination of u the surfaces 26 is preferably, though not necessarily, greater than that of the surface 21. By this means, points are provided at the teeth 25, which points are adapted more readily to-cut and remove the film l5. By reason of the ,ract that the pitcher inclination of the surfaces 21 is the same or less than that of thethreads ll. thecap may readily be molded 01' plastic material and removed from the mold core in the ordinary manner'by unscrewing the cap from the core, since the surfaces 21 will rise from the top of the core on the rotation of the cap without inter-'- ierence with the core.

It will be seen that I have provided a sealed tube together with means 'for readily and etfectively removing the seal when the contents are to be dispensed, that the cap means for cutting the seal is simple, eflicient and easily manulectured and I have, therefore, provided a structure well adapted to meet the requirements 0! practical use.

While I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to'be understood as limiting myself thereto, but intend to claim the invention as broadly as may be permitted by the state of the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

.I claim:

1. A one-piece molded film cutting cap for a collapsible tube having a sealing film, said cap and adapted to cut a metal filmon a tube on which the cap is screwed.

3. A collapsible tube sealing cap molded in one piece and having a film cutting element molded integrallytherewith, said element being arranged in spaced relation to the axis of the cap'to move in a circular path when the cap is rotated about said axis.

4. A collapsible tube sealing cap having a deto form a cutting element at the ends of said wall.

5. A one-piece cap for a collapsible tube, said cap having an integral inner wall terminating in a sharp cutting element of generally circular form.

6. In a cap for a collapsible tube, said cap having a top and a skirt, an inner wall depending from the top inside of the skirt and terminating'fn a sharp generally circular cutting edge. I

7. A one-piece molded cap for a collapsible tube, said cap having an inner wall arranged concentrically about the axis of the cap and terminating in a circular serrated edge.

8. In a collapsible tube provided with a hollow externally threaded neck, an integral sealing film at the top of the neck,'and cap means for cutting said film when the contents of the tube are to be dispensed, said cap means comprising a cap havingin internally threaded skirt initially partly screwed on to the neck, and an annular wall on the cap spaced inwardly from and shorter than the skirt and having a pair of inclined lowermost meeting surfaces providing film cutting means on said wall to cut the film when the cap is screwed down on the neck.

GEQRGE W. TEMPLE. 

